A single electrode voltage, current- and patch-clamp amplifier with complete stable series resistance compensation.

An input headstage for single electrode voltage and current clamping is described which permits selecting desired operational modes during an experiment. These include cell attached or whole cell patch clamping, single micro-electrode voltage or current clamping, potential recording, iontophoresis and voltammetry. Input electrode series resistance with the electrode inserted in a cell or during whole cell patch clamping can be measured at any time. The unique circuitry allows complete compensation of the series resistance with high frequency response. The input series electrode resistance can also vary considerably around an initially set 100% compensation with intrinsic stability. An accelerator 'supercharger' or 'booster circuit' is included which can shorten the rise time of membrane potential to the command potential by a hundredfold. This improves the recording of early ion channel currents. Feedback resistors are selected remotely for the specific experimental need. Signal resolution in patch clamping is that expected from the thermal noise of the feedback resistor and electrode to membrane seal resistance. This headstage circuitry design thus allows interchangeable modes of operation and parameters during an experiment to obtain optimal conditions for signal detection and frequency response.